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Valley City Votes: Recall coverage

Mild weather and a sense of civic duty have brought large numbers of voters to City Hall to participate in the mayoral and commissioner recall election.

"It's been constant," said election clerk Ellen Bolstad of the crowds at City Hall.

"There's been maybe a few 10 to 15 minute lulls, but somebody's here all the time," election judge Dorothy Olson said of the healthy turnout. "That's what you have elections for, though."

Although the prospect of working from 7:30 a.m. until the last vote is counted may sound grim, the ladies handing out ballots and checking in voters stayed upbeat.

"Ready or not, we're it!" quipped Bolstad.

As of 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, around 1,500 citizens have voted in person, in addition to 659 pre-cast absentee ballots, according to City Auditor Avis Richter. Increased absentee voting and an additional election worker allowed the process to run like clockwork.

"I feel it's going really smoothly," said Richter.

Polls will remain open until 7 p.m., and unofficial results should be available by 9:30 or 10 p.m.